A North Wales mum has hiked Snowdon as a thank you to the Wales Air Ambulance after the medics helped save her son’s life.
Victoria Sinclair’s son Rayan was involved in a road traffic accident that nearly cost him his life.
Victoria, from Wrexham, said: “Rayan was involved in a devastating road traffic collision. Thanks to the quick and skilled response of the Wales Air Ambulance, Rayan was rushed to safety, where he received the urgent care he needed.”
The incident happened in the hours of darkness, so the Charity’s 24 hour helicopter based out of Cardiff Heliport were dispatched, and flew Rayan to the major trauma unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Victoria said: “Rayan spent three long months in hospital, and although he faces life-changing injuries, I’m endlessly proud of how far he’s come. His recovery has been nothing short of remarkable, and while the journey ahead is still long, we know with the support of family, friends, and the amazing team at the Wales Air Ambulance, he will continue to make incredible strides.
“The Wales Air Ambulance is a vital service that relies entirely on the generosity of
donations, and this climb was my way of giving back to them, ensuring they can continue to
provide lifesaving care to others who need it most.”
Climbing Snowdonia has not gone unnoticed by Victoria’s friends and family; she has raised over £4,000 for the Charity that was there for Rayan when he needed them the most.
Victoria said: “I’m absolutely amazed by the amount raised. The Wales Air Ambulance saved my son’s life, and while no amount of money could ever truly repay them, I hope this contribution helps them continue their vital work. I’m so grateful to everyone who donated and supported us.”
Victoria trained for four months to hike Snowdonia, with six of her closest friends, and was determined to reach the summit despite the weather conditions.
She said: “The weather was really challenging but we were determined not to let anyone down. The support from family, friends, and colleagues has been incredible, and I feel truly privileged to have had such a strong network around me during this difficult time.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency critical care.
This year Rayan, 19, returned to college to finish his A levels, where he studied Maths, Physics, and Economics and is now awaiting his results.
Rayan, who is an only child, has showed remarkable strength since the accident and will undergo further surgery. His mum said: “He still requires one more major operation, which involves taking bone from his leg to reconstruct his jaw. It’s a 10-hour procedure, followed by a three-week hospital stay and around three months of recovery.”
Despite the air ambulance team being dispatched from Cardiff, a visit was organised for Rayan to meet some of the crew who attended him the night of the accident at the Charity’s base in Welshpool.
Victoria said: “Meeting the team and especially the person who was there on the night of Rayan’s accident meant the world to us; we are so grateful to get that opportunity. It was like a full circle moment, even though we had already written thank you letters to the team, meeting them in person and thanking them face-to-face was a day we will never forget.
“It helped with our healing process. Rayan had two friends that passed away last year, and they both used the Wales Air Ambulance service. This Charity will forever be in our hearts.”
Debra Sima, the Charity’s Regional Fundraising Manager for north Wales said: “Rayan sounds like a remarkable young man and despite his life changing injuries has returned to college and sat his A levels, which is incredible. The family know first-hand how importance our service is to the people of Wales. Victoria is very passionate about our Charity and knows that the charity was there for Rayan when he needed it.
“We were delighted to hear that Victoria set herself a fundraising challenge, with six of her closest friends, and raised an incredible amount of money for our lifesaving cause. We’re extremely grateful to them all.
“The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Support like this will help us to reach that target. Thank you to Victoria and her friends for taking on this challenge in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance.” Victoria plans on continuing to fundraise for the Wales Air Ambulance in the future.
